Planning Account Director

Company description

Who We Are in the UK? Spark Foundry, the Acceleration Agency. We help brands to identify, learn and respond to opportunities faster than the competition. Every client has an area of their business they need to accelerate, from short-term goals to long-term transformation. We’ve proven our approach during the most difficult year on record. Now we’re using it to provide a launchpad for their future. Come be an accelerator with us.

How we accelerate:

• Planning: an approach that works in practice rather than theory, arming planners with the ability to create cutting edge campaigns
• Intelligence: a suite of tools that give definitive answers to big questions, and uncovers actionable insights about real people
• Trading: a model built on flexibility and trusted relationships, underpinned with bold guarantees
• Relationships: a culture of asking challenging questions to better understand the brief – we are not a ‘yes’ agency
• People: a strong history of recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds and accelerating their careers

Our Commitment

We are diverse through our experience, people and the clients we look after – and we celebrate that diversity. Our people hold us accountable to our beliefs and via regular surveys and our grass roots D&I team, The Collective, and internal next generation board, Firestarters, we hold regular events and work continually towards generating ideas, initiatives and educating our people to ensure we are a diverse and inclusive agency. As part of our dedication to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, Spark Foundry is committed to equal access to opportunity for people without regard to race, age, sex, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

The role

We’re looking for an experienced Planning Account Director to join Spark Foundry on a 12-month fixed term contract, supporting planning delivery across Perrigo and Kantar. This is a hands‑on role for someone who enjoys being close to the work — shaping media strategies, building solid plans, and working day‑to‑day with clients and internal teams to get things done properly. You’ll sit between senior account leadership and the wider planning team, helping ensure work is clear, consistent and delivered to a high standard. It’s a good fit for an established Account Director who wants a defined‑term role with variety, autonomy and strong client exposure, without a heavy people‑management remit.

What you’ll be doing:

• Developing and delivering integrated media strategies and plans across AV, digital, search and social
• Owning the day‑to‑day planning output, making sure work is insight‑led, accurate and on time
• Supporting annual planning, campaign responses and strategic work alongside the Business Director
• Acting as a reliable, credible point of contact for clients — managing briefs, timelines and deliverables
• Presenting recommendations and updates clearly and confidently
• Working closely with Managers and Executives, providing guidance and quality control where needed
• Collaborating with AV, digital, data and activation teams to ensure plans are joined‑up and executable
• Keeping on top of account hygiene — processes, documentation and ways of working

What we’re looking for:

• Experience at Account Director level within a media agency
• Strong, practical planning skills across AV and digital channels
• Confident client‑facing style — clear, calm and comfortable explaining your thinking
• Organised and detail‑focused, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams
• Collaborative and pragmatic — someone who gets stuck in and helps things run smoothly
• Comfortable stepping into an FTC role and adding value quickly

Why this role:

• A clearly defined 12‑month FTC with well‑established clients
• A senior, hands‑on planning role with real ownership of output
• Variety across two very different accounts
• Supportive team, sensible hybrid working and clear expectations
• Ideal for someone who wants a strong Account Director role without a heavy leadership agenda

Additional information

Spark has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans we also offer:

• WORK YOUR WORLD: opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS: Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day‑to‑day work and create time to focus on your well‑being and self‑care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS: 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Wellbeing content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES: We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF: You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS: This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits be shared when you join us! Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office‑based three days during the working week. We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process. Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).